Trump imposes new travel restrictions on members of Congress

President Donald Trump moved Friday to further limit travel by Congress members during the partial government shutdown, and said he would make a “major announcement” about border security on Saturday after weeks of mulling the declaration of a national emergency.

“I will be making a major announcement concerning the Humanitarian Crisis on our Southern Border, and the Shutdown, tomorrow afternoon at 3 P.M., live from the @WhiteHouse,” Trump tweeted late in the day.

Trump has spoken in recent weeks about declaring a “national emergency” at the border, theoretically allowing him to use defense money for his proposed wall along the U.S.-Mexico border – but also triggering a lawsuit from Democrats who say the president lacks the legal authority for such a move.

The White House would not say whether Trump’s announcement would be an emergency declaration.

Trump issued his cryptic tweet hours after his administration said it would bar members of Congress from using government planes without prior written approval.

The new policy, announced in a memo to department heads, was put in place one day after Trump canceled a military plane for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who was planning to lead a congressional delegation to Afghanistan this weekend.

“Under no circumstances during a government shutdown will any government owned, rented, leased or chartered aircraft support any Congressional delegation, without the express written approval of the White House Chief of Staff,” wrote Russell Vought, acting director of the Office of Management and Budget.

“Nor will any funds appropriated to the Executive Branch be used for any Congressional delegation travel expenses, without his express written approval,” Vought’s memo said.